EE moves to reassure Carphone Warehouse on their retail tie

THE UK’s biggest mobile phone operator EE has moved to reassure retail partner Carphone Warehouse amid fears it is about to hang up on their relationship.

PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: 00:00, Mon, Jun 9, 2014

EE will soon announce the results of a review of its consumer retail strategy [PA]

EE, a joint venture between French group Orange and Germany’s Deutsche Telekom, is drawing up plans to sell to more consumers directly.

It will announce within weeks the results of a review of its consumer retail strategy.

Orange has signalled its desire for EE to move away from third-party retailers and deal directly with consumers.

We announced a review of our distribution strategy a few months ago and this process is ongoing with discussions continuing with all relevant parties, including Carphone Warehouse

EE

Losing its relationship with EE would be a blow to Carphone which also offers handsets and contracts from 02 and Vodafone.

EE said: “We announced a review of our distribution strategy a few months ago and this process is ongoing with discussions continuing with all relevant parties, including Carphone Warehouse who are a long-standing and important partner.”

Carphone believes its near-£4billion merger with Dixons Retail will help strengthen its ties with the mobile groups.

Carphone said: “The proposed merger creates the opportunity for significant new value and we’re in conversations with all the major operators on how we can mutually make the most of this opportunity.”